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The Current

CBC Podcasts & Radio On-Demand

Three stories to expand your worldview, delivered daily. Matt Galloway cuts through a sea of choice to bring you stories that transcend the news cycle. Conversations with big thinkers, household names, and people living the news. An antidote to algorithms that cater to what you already know — and a meeting place for diverse perspectives. In its 20 years, the Current has become a go-to place for stories that shape and entertain us. Released daily, Monday to Friday. The Current is produced in Toronto, Ontario, Canada — and has recently recorded live shows about the Canadian election in Surrey and Burnaby BC. And shows to come in Oshawa and the 905, Red Deer, Alberta, Quebec City and Halifax.

Location:

Canada, ON

Description:

Three stories to expand your worldview, delivered daily. Matt Galloway cuts through a sea of choice to bring you stories that transcend the news cycle. Conversations with big thinkers, household names, and people living the news. An antidote to algorithms that cater to what you already know — and a meeting place for diverse perspectives. In its 20 years, the Current has become a go-to place for stories that shape and entertain us. Released daily, Monday to Friday. The Current is produced in Toronto, Ontario, Canada — and has recently recorded live shows about the Canadian election in Surrey and Burnaby BC. And shows to come in Oshawa and the 905, Red Deer, Alberta, Quebec City and Halifax.

Language:

English

Contact:

The Current CBC Radio P.O. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6 (877) 287-7366


Episodes
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Sudan Through the Lens: The Stories Behind the War

4/22/2026
As Sudan's war enters its fourth year, much of the story is told in numbers, millions displaced, thousands killed. But photojournalist Abdulmonam Eassa is trying to show something else. He's spent years documenting Sudan, from the hope of the 2019 revolution to the devastation of today's conflict. His latest work, “War in Sudan: A Trapped Nation,”just earned him a World Press Photo award. He takes us behind the images on what's described as the world's forgotten war.

Duration:00:11:33

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Can red light therapy really reverse aging?

4/22/2026
It was once in NASA laboratories. Now, it's part of your nighttime routine. Red light therapy has become a booming industry, with popular products like face masks and red light panels claiming to have the ability to treat anything from wrinkles to cancer. But does science back this up?

Duration:00:16:05

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Why some women are choosing to “freebirth”

4/22/2026
Mistrust in the medical system and barriers to access maternity care in rural communities has some women turning to ‘freebirth’ — giving birth without the support of doctors and registered midwives. On Vancouver Island, a court case is highlighting a divide in the birthing community after a freebirth activist was accused of manslaughter in the death of a newborn in a home birth she allegedly attended.

Duration:00:22:54

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Should high school students get a grade for attendance?

4/22/2026
With absenteeism rates on the rise, Ontario is trying to get kids back to class -- but making it count toward their final grade in high school. But which students will this help? And who will be left behind?

Duration:00:19:32

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Fareed Zakaria on the US’ moral decline

4/21/2026
It's been seven weeks since the United States and Israel launched a coordinated bombing campaign against Iran. Fareed Zakaria tells Matt Galloway that the US's lack of coherent plan, moral bankruptcy and dubious legal standing in the Iran war have made it and the world more dangerous.

Duration:00:20:08

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Canada's energy minister on a future pipeline

4/21/2026
Tim Hodgson, federal energy and natural resources minister, weighs in on economic uncertainty surrounding the global energy crisis, financial relief for Canadians, building major projects, and the prospect of an Alberta-backed pipeline that is already facing pushback in British Columbia.

Duration:00:19:42

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Doug Ford’s “gravy plane” irks Ontario voters

4/21/2026
Just days after Ontario announced it had purchased a $28.9 million private jet for Premier Doug Ford, the province is now trying to sell it. The decision to buy the jet sparked backlash, with critics calling it tone deaf at a time when many Canadians are struggling with the cost of living. But others argue a plane like this could help a leader do their job more effectively, especially in a province as large as Ontario.

Duration:00:13:49

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How dangerous is it to stream music and drive?

4/21/2026
U.S. researchers looked at what happens to drivers on the days that major album releases drop, from artists like Bad Bunny and Taylor Swift. And they found that traffic fatalities increased by nearly 15 percent. We talk to Dr Vishal Patel of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School about what the findings mean -- and what they can tell us about exactly what distracts us when we're driving.

Duration:00:12:26

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Jeremy Hansen on his trip around the moon

4/20/2026
After making history as the first Canadian travelling beyond Earth's orbit, Jeremy Hansen reflects on the experience, and what he's learned pushing the boundaries of human exploration.

Duration:00:17:15

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Waterloo’s water shortage a warning bell for Canadian communities

4/20/2026
Most new development in Waterloo, Ontario has been put on hold because the region doesn't have enough water infrastructure for future projects. How this is a warning bell for other communities across Canada.

Duration:00:24:19

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Why your attention span is trash and what you can do about it

4/20/2026
Can't concentrate? What about thinking deeply? Attention spans are shrinking rapidly. Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University and the author of the bestselling book 'Deep Work' says we're facing a crisis -- an attack on our ability to think. He's calling for what he calls a revolution in defence of thinking. He outlines the steps for reclaiming your attention.

Duration:00:24:32

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Artemis II inspires: the ripple effects of the moon mission

4/17/2026
As the Artemis II mission wraps up, its impact is still being felt here on Earth. From classrooms to rocket clubs, a new generation is looking up and imagining themselves in space. We hear from Dhyan Soni, a Grade 12 student already building rockets and dreaming big about Canada's future in space. And later, Canadian astrophysicist Sara Seager helps us understand where this renewed excitement for space could lead next

Duration:00:17:48

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Will the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire hold?

4/17/2026
Gregg Carlstrom, The Economist's Middle East correspondent breaks down what we know and don't know about the delicate Israel-Lebanon ceasefire that was announced by US President Donald Trump.

Duration:00:07:28

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How has war punctured Dubai’s image

4/17/2026
The attacks on Dubai over the past month and a half have shaken the Gulf city's reputation as a safe haven in a volatile region. The dazzling skyline with 200-storey towers have been a huge draw for expats, tourists, influencers and the ultra rich. CBC's Megan Williams looks into what the future holds for Dubai, in the wake of missile and drone attacks from Iran.

Duration:00:17:09

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Is cohousing the life hack you've been looking for?

4/17/2026
Rachel Collishaw is ready for a big change. She wants to leave her secluded rural home for something called cohousing. In an uncertain world, she and her husband are ready for a bit more connection. They would exchange their peaceful home for a much smaller condo, shared meals, commons spaces. But, right now, it's just a dream. One they aren't sure they can afford. Can Rachel and others like her find a better way of living with cohousing? Or is it a dream that just isn't ready to take root in Ontario?

Duration:00:25:40

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A "major milestone" for treating severe depression

4/16/2026
Scientists have the results of the first ever large-scale clinical trial of a new form of treatment for severe, treatment-resistant depression, called magnetic seizure therapy. They found it's as effective as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which is currently considered the gold standard. We talk to Dr. Daniel Blumberger of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, also the co-lead of the study, about how this treatment can change lives.

Duration:00:10:47

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The Real Cost of Reality TV

4/16/2026
Since the dawn of reality television in the '90s, the genre has capitalized on the 'train wreck' appeal of its stars. Now, with recent abuse allegations against the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul, there are renewed calls for networks to stop prioritizing dramatic plotlines over participants' mental health. We talk to Theresa DeMaria from Netflix's 'Age of Attraction' and Danielle Lindeman, the author of 'True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us.'

Duration:00:25:38

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Skyrocketing airfares may be here to stay

4/16/2026
Air travel is getting more expensive.. A global jet fuel crunch, driven by conflict in the Middle East, is pushing up costs and starting to disrupt supply in parts of the world. Airlines are already adjusting — raising fares, adding fees, and in some cases, cutting routes. John Gradek, an aviation lecturer at McGill University, explains what’s driving the spike, what it means for your summer travel plans, and why higher prices could stick around even if the crisis eases.

Duration:00:13:48

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Why Canada's long term care system can't keep up

4/16/2026
Long term care workers in Nova Scotia are on strike, demanding more pay and better working conditions. Adults 85 and older are one of Canada's fastest growing age groups. It's estimated that long term care capacity will have to almost double in the next decade to meet demand. We look at the demands on long term care workers and what staffing issues mean for residents with Ty Loppie, long term-care worker and Vice President of Young Workers CUPE Nova Scotia, and Andre Picard, health columnist for the Globe and Mail and the author of Neglected No More: The Urgent Need to Improve the Lives of Canada's Elders in the Wake of a Pandemic.

Duration:00:19:15

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How the energy crisis is hurting Canadians

4/15/2026
From trucking, to farming, to filling up your tank. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has sent oil prices skyrocketing. Murray Mullen is the senior executive officer and chairman of Mullen Group, a logistics and trucking company based in Alberta. Plus, Reid Southwick, the Western Bureau Chief for the Financial Post, about the wider pinch this country is feeling.

Duration:00:19:51